OSAGE COUNTY — Osage County Commissioners spent much their July 14 meeting examining whether the courthouse’s aging backup generator is still capable of supporting the county’s emergency operations.

The discussion began minutes after the meeting opened when Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin said the courthouse generator, installed about 20 years ago, was no longer able to handle the building’s electrical demands. While it may have been adequate when installed, he said renovations and the addition of electronics, computers, freezers, and other equipment have increased the load beyond what the system was designed to support. Rather than immediately replacing the generator, commissioners agreed they first needed an evaluation from Schaefer Electric to determine what changes would be necessary and whether the county should power the entire courthouse or only essential operations.

The discussion continued when county groundskeeper John Kennedy joined the meeting. Kennedy explained the generator was installed when the sheriff’s office and jail relied primarily on standard 110-volt electrical service. Since then, electronic door locks, cameras, computers, heating and cooling equipment, and other systems have been added without a corresponding upgrade to the generator. He said the existing unit is not capable of operating the three-phase pumps required for the courthouse’s geothermal heating and cooling system, leaving the building without heating or air conditioning during the recent outage. Kennedy also said portions of the electrical system had been rerouted over the years to accommodate renovations, making it unclear what additional circuits could be placed on generator power without an engineering review.

Rather than focusing on restoring power to the entire courthouse, commissioners repeatedly returned to the question of which services were truly essential during an extended outage. Western District Commissioner Dale Logan said the county’s priority should be keeping the sheriff’s office, jail, kitchen, refrigeration, and other emergency functions operating, even if the remainder of the courthouse remained without power. Griffin agreed the county first needed to determine what absolutely had to remain operational before deciding whether the existing generator could be reconfigured or whether a larger unit would ultimately be required. Commissioners agreed to bring together Schaefer Electric, the sheriff’s office, and county staff to evaluate the system together instead of discussing the issue separately.

The generator discussion resurfaced during the department update portion of the meeting, when Logan asked Sheriff Michael Bonham to describe what the recent outage had revealed from the sheriff’s perspective. Bonham said the extended outage exposed several shortcomings that had not been apparent during shorter outages. The generator powered lights and computers but did not operate the jail’s heating and cooling system, freezers, refrigerators, or portions of the kitchen. Staff avoided opening the freezers to preserve food and instead relied on Meals Ready to Eat (MRE). Bonham questioned why a generator of that size could not support those essential functions. Commissioners agreed the sheriff’s office should participate in determining which systems would receive priority during future outages.

Later, after returning from closed session near the end of the meeting, commissioners resumed the discussion with Kennedy, Bonham, and a representative of Schaefer Electric. Working through the courthouse’s electrical loads, Schaefer Electric identified the critical priorities. Logan reiterated that emergency services, not the entire courthouse, should be the focus during a prolonged outage. Schaefer Electric said many of those circuits could likely be moved onto the existing generator, although additional evaluation would be needed to determine exactly how much could be supported. By the end of the discussion, the commission had shifted from asking whether the county needed a larger generator to determining whether the current system could be reconfigured to keep the sheriff’s office, jail, and other critical functions operating during future emergencies.

Logan asked about potentially lending the county’s emergency generators to local businesses during extended outages; however, Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Peters cautioned against choosing which private businesses receive county assistance during emergencies because that could create liability and fairness issues.

Logan also gave a shout-out to Higginbotham, the county’s liability insurance company, because he used the generator he won from them at last year’s Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) conference to power his house during the recent outage. “Lesson learned,” Logan said. “I’ll never be without one again.”

• Citizen David Godi raised concerns about drainage problems on CR 718, arguing that undersized culverts and the lack of roadside ditches are causing the road to wash out repeatedly. Godi urged the county to install the largest practical culverts rather than replacing failing pipes with similar-sized ones, saying larger culverts would reduce future maintenance.

Peters said he agreed that larger culverts would provide a better long-term solution, but said replacing every culvert countywide would increase the culvert budget from roughly $70,000 to about $7 million. Peters added that the county’s goal is to repair roads correctly over time by restoring crowns, cleaning ditches, and upgrading culverts, but that financial realities require the work to be completed incrementally rather than all at once.

Peters also acknowledged all the roads in that area need significant work.

The issues Godi raised have been discussed repeatedly by the commission in recent meetings, with commissioners acknowledging the need for larger culverts, improved drainage, and more permanent road repairs while citing budget and staffing limitations on how quickly the work can be completed.

• During the monthly department updates, Bonham reported on his department’s response to the recent storm, saying that blocked roads and inaccessible boat ramps delayed emergency response in some areas, requiring responders to launch from Cole County for some rescues.

Bonham praised the Chamois Volunteer Fire Protection District for working alongside his office during the response, including helping clear roads after neither agency could initially reach Bonnots Mill from the Chamois side.

He also credited local residents who began water rescues before first responders could reach the area. “I’m quite sure that it ... saved lives, if not injuries,” Bonham said.

He added that he received complaints about the county’s tornado sirens not sounding, explaining the storm produced straight-line winds rather than a tornado warning.

• Recorder of Deeds Cindy Hoffman told the group the material needed to make custom document sleeves for the nonstandard sized books was scheduled to arrive that day, which should allow the refurbishment of those books to be complete soon.

• Treasurer Valerie Prater said auditors noted that several departments continue to go over budget on certain line items, even if they are within their total budget, and asked department heads to be conscious of which line items costs are being applied to.

Peters asked about the separate disaster relief fund (account) the county is trying to set up to track costs associated with earlier storms, and Prater said she is still researching that.

• Collector Denise Nolte said she had ordered statements with information printed on them regarding the senior tax credit and how/when to apply. Nolte noted the forms are not yet available, and people cannot apply until January 2027.

• University of Missouri Extension Office Engagement Specialist in Community Economic Development Elizabeth Anderson introduced her new office support person, Jamie Horan, and noted that new office hours will be Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Anderson also said her office is preparing for the state fair, and waiting for Ag Business to hit their website.

• Deputy Assessor/Fieldworker Cory Dudenhoeffer told the group no one had applied for Board of Equalization, which was scheduled for July 20.

He also noted the Assessor’s office will be closing form 11A (final tax abstract) at the end of July.

Nolte asked if Air BnBs will change from residential to commercial this year or next, and recommended citizens be notified of the  change prior to receiving their increased tax bill. Cory Dudenhoeffer was not sure when that change would go into effect.

• Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer said her office had received new plat books.

Logan asked her if there had been anything wrong with the Argyle ballots, stating he had received a complaint about it. Logan said he’d checked the ballots on the county’s website and in the Unterrified Democrat, and had not seen a mistake. Brooke Dudenhoeffer said she was unaware of any mistakes with the Argyle ballots.

• The change to PTO was discussed, and Logan said the current plan is to leave sick leave separate but to move to accrued PTO in lieu of the current vacation policy.

Logan said he still thinks county employees get too many sick days, especially the new ones, but noted the point of this change is to make county employment more attractive.

After some discussion, it was agreed that both PTO and sick time would begin accruing from the employee’s first day of employment; however, they would not be able to use it for the first 90 days.

Brooke Dudenhoeffer noted the county’s current payroll software could not automatically calculate PTO accrual based on the varying hours worked by individual employees, prompting discussion of whether the county would need different software to implement the new policy.

• Employee evaluation forms were also discussed, as Sallin said she has several employee evaluations coming up and wanted to make sure she was using the right form; however, no decisions were made. Mantle said he thought the last version leaned toward negative comments and would prefer a form that allowed for more positive comments. Sallin offered to email the forms she currently uses again, and Griffin asked her to do so.

• Casey Chastain of Higginbotham Insurance presented the county with a $1,000 grant through the Casey Chastain Foundation to help provide clothing and shoes for local children in need. Chastain said the foundation typically distributes the money through four $250 Walmart gift cards, with county officials identifying families in need, but told commissioners the gift cards had not yet been loaded and should not be given away as-is. He added that while the foundation’s primary goal is to help children obtain new clothes and shoes, commissioners could use the funds in a different or more creative way if they chose, saying he trusted their judgment. Chastain said they only ask that nobody photograph the children shopping because classmates might see those photos. Griffin said the county could work with local schools to identify families in need.

Chastain and Alan Fay then outlined Higginbotham’s health insurance and human resources services. Chastain said the company has seen an increase in employment-related lawsuits involving Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims, paid time off disputes, and benefits administration. He argued that coordinating a county’s benefits, HR, and liability services through a single provider allows potential employment issues to be addressed before they become costly liability claims, citing one unnamed Missouri county that avoided litigation after Higginbotham staff worked with county officials to resolve an employee complaint.

Commissioners also questioned the company about its HR resources, compliance assistance, and benefits administration. Fay said new clients receive a customized compliance dashboard to help track federal and state employment requirements and said he would serve as the county’s primary contact for benefits and HR matters. Deputy Clerk Juanita Libbert said the county’s current provider offered that as well.

Logan said Higginbotham had already helped the county save money and that he favored moving the county’s employee benefits to the company, but added commissioners wanted to discuss the proposal further with Brooke Dudenhoeffer before making a decision. Griffin said he also had been pleased with the company’s work. Commissioners scheduled a follow-up discussion with Higginbotham representatives for July 28.

• Prater later expressed concern about whether the county could accept the $1,000 check, which sparked a heated conversation between her and Griffin. Brooke Dudenhoeffer requested the commissioners allow her to contact another county to see how they had handled it. “I think we all agree that it is a good thing, whether it’s a grant or whatever. I just want to know how they’re handling it,” she said.

• Peters said he had spoken with the sheriff’s office about a citizen who is vandalizing CR 303 and 310 in an attempt to slow traffic. Peters said the citizen had initially filled the drainage ditch with rocks and dirt, causing a channel to cut across the road when it rained. Peters said he spoke with the citizen, who cleaned out the ditch and repaired the road, but that the individual had later placed large rocks in the road and told another resident that Peters put them there.

Peters said he thought it was time to get the sheriff involved before someone got hurt.

• Logan again thanked taxpayers for their help repairing the roads after major storms. He said a taxpayer had ordered pizzas for the Pentecostal Bridge crew, which he (Peters) planned to pick up and take to the jobsite after the meeting.

ROAD & BRIDGE

Road & Bridge Foreman Neil Mantle told commissioners he’s working on setting up an account at a new rock quarry outside Meta. Mantle noted that hauling rock from the new quarry will be significantly more efficient, noting the closer location should reduce travel time.

• Mantle also discussed replacing bent axles on two pieces of equipment, but noted repair expenses remain well within the department’s budget this year.

“I don’t think there’s any sense in owning something if we can’t use it,” Peters said, in support of the repairs.

• Mantle reported ongoing difficulty getting AT&T to relocate two telephone pedestals that interfere with road work. Mantle said repeated attempts to contact the company have resulted in automated systems, dropped calls with the carrier, and little progress. One inactive pedestal could potentially be removed, while another serving nearby homes needs to be relocated or replaced with a buried connection.

• Mantle asked when chip-and-seal work is expected to begin. Logan said a date had not yet been set and he planned to call later that day for an update. Griffin added the contractor was behind schedule because of recent rain.

• Quarry rock was hauled on CR 303 (253.44T), 603 (35.49T), 735A (69.56T), 741 (111.05T), and 804 (328.41T); road work was performed on CR 303, 421, and 804; tree removal was completed on CR 303, 316, 403, 404, 412, 416, 421, 424, 437, 505, 611, 712, and 731; brush mowers were working on CR 271, 272, and 274B; and grader operators were active as follows: G01 (CR 412, 413, 602); G03 (CR 303, 307, 805); G04 (CR 631, 633, 634, 635, 637, 638; G05 (CR 735, 735A, 736, 741; and G06 (CR 235, 275A, 303, 310).

• Tractor #41 (2006 John Deere 6615 w/Alamo Machete Mower) and Grader #01 (2016 12M3 AWD) were serviced in house, and Dump Truck #27 (2000 Sterling Single Axle) out of house.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin said her office is planning for an Aug. 10 soft opening for Quick Care, which will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Quick Care will not be open on Tuesdays.

Sallin said her office polled the public to find out their preference for early vs. late hours, and the 240 responses leaned heavily toward early hours, and that information was used to determine the hours of operation.

Sallin told commissioners the cost of the type of heavy advertising previously discussed (including radio ads and a billboard) was at least $10,000, which she felt was excessive. Logan agreed that was too much.

Much discussion followed about whether the fee for the Quick Care would be $40 or $50; however, Sallin pushed strongly for $40, which the commissioners eventually agreed to.

Sallin pointed out that tests, although billed at cost, would be extra, which may bring the cost of the visit to $50 or $60 due at the time of service, and that might be as much as some people could afford out of pocket.

Peters countered that $50 was still very reasonable, especially considering most insurance holders will receive a later bill for services not covered by insurance. Sallin said the average copay for people with insurance is $39, and for the additional $11, people may choose to drive to a clinic that will accept their insurance to avoid paying more out of pocket that day, then deal with the bill in the mail when it comes.

She also noted that someone with multiple children may need to have them all seen at the same time, which would significantly increase their out-of-pocket cost that day, so keeping it as affordable as possible would decrease the strain on their wallets.

Sallin explained that if someone came in with an obvious ear infection, they would be billed $40 and receive a prescription for medication; however, if someone came in with symptoms requiring additional tests, those test could add $5 - $20 to the cost of their visit.

The cost for county employees will be $20 per visit, plus the cost of any necessary tests.

• Other figures reported for June were as follows; Birth Certificates (35), Death Certificates (29), Vaccines (18), Animal Bites (0), Dressing Changes (0), Lice Checks (1), Medication Injections (16), Blood Draws (24), Blood Pressure Checks (17), PPD Testing (15), EPHS Inspections (10), WIC Caseload (112), WIC Appointments Completed (39), Drug Testing (33), Prenatal Classes Held (0), Lactation Visits (1), Car Seat Checks (0), Car Seats Issued (2), Lead Testing (0), CPR Certifications (24), Mental Health Visits (0), Foot & Nail  Visits (31), Health Screenings (0), STD Screenings (3), STD Treatment (1), Daycare Providers (Clock Hours) (7), Daycare Health Promotions (3), Daycare Inspections (6), Nurse Visits (13), Drive Thru Customers (22), Diapers/Wipes provided (12), Water Test Kits (5), Notary (0), CD Investigations (3), Lead Cases (0), and Influenza B Reported (0).

FINANCIAL

• Sales tax distribution received from the state of Missouri showed $470,444.21 collected in July, including $57,364.33 to General Revenue, $61,527.63 to Jail Renovation (JR60), $30,761.59 to Capital Improvements (CI88, $27,685.43) and Building & Grounds (BG89, $3,076.16), $61,523.12 to Prop P, $60,994.78 to Prop R, $61,527.59 to 911/Law Enforcement, and $136,745.17 to Use Tax.

• The June Statement of Monthly Collections from the collector showed county tax distributions of $2,335.27 to General Revenue, $4,773.40 to the County Retirement Fund (CERF), $547.81 to the County Assessment Fund, and $12.64 to the County Collector’s Office.

Taxes collected for the school districts were: $4,315.12 to R-1 (Chamois), $12,614.26 to R-2 (Linn), $8,329.92 to R-3 (Fatima), $2,475.90 to Maries County R-2, and $421.53 to Gasconade County R-2.

A total of $1,696.05 went to special road districts, including Osage County ($1,069.84), Belle Special Road District ($203.42), Chamois Special Road District ($389.05), West Special Road District ($33.62), and Linn Special Road District ($0.12).

Ambulance districts received the following: Osage ($876.54), Ozark ($198.79), and Maries ($230.67), for a total of $1,306.

Fire Districts received a total of $1,531.05, including Belle ($183.18), Bland ($3.59), Chamois ($150.85), Linn ($1,113.80), and Meta ($36.05).

Cities received a total of $1,468.50, including Argyle ($14.91), Belle ($111.61), Chamois ($331.32), Linn ($959.95), and Meta ($50.71).

• Time sheets were approved by commissioners.